Volunteers wanted to spruce up Hull's Pickering Park

A GROUP of volunteers is urging people to come forward to help spruce up a west Hull park.

Friends of Pickering Park has set up a gardening club to try to encourage people to help tidy up the sensory garden.

Concerns have been expressed over the lack of park rangers and, with no dedicated gardener, residents are having to plug the gap.

Pat Tharratt, of Friends of Pickering Park, believes residents are going to have to pay a greater role

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She said: "There is no gardener as such for the park, so we want to see what we can do about it.

"We need to get people involved and attract more visitors to the park.

"This gardening club is a key way forward for us.

"The council just doesn't have the money to put many resources into this side of the city.

"It is up to local residents to try to do what they can.

"The park rangers have to cover Peter Pan Park and Costello as well as Pickering Park.

"It is very easy for land to become derelict and be taken over by weeds and ivy. We can't let this happen.

"In the fishing lake we pulled three children's cycles out. That can't be good."

The Friends are already getting the schools involved.

Ms Tharratt said: "Sirius Academy is already taking over one of the beds and we are trying to get the primary schools and Ganton Special School involved as well.

"In the club, we may only get a couple of people interested but we hope there will be ten or more."

Tony Ryan, also of the Friends, believes attending the club will be an ideal way to spend a weekend.

He said: "This is an opportunity for everyone to get involved in their local park and make a difference to how it looks.

"It is also an opportunity to get some gentle exercise in the open air with people you might enjoy getting to know."

At the first meeting there will be an opportunity to meet with some of the Friends and to meet and discuss the way forward.

Mr Ryan said: "How often we meet will be decided by the people that come along to the first meeting, but there will always be the opportunity to do more or less, as each person wants.

"We have applied for funding to purchase equipment but, in the meantime, those attending should take along their own hand tools.

Local councillor Claire Thomas has welcomed the decision.

She said: "This is a really good idea. The Friends do a great job and work hard to make improvements to the park.

"The gardening club will be a great way to stay healthy, be sociable and help keep the park tidy."

The gardening club will meet on Saturday at the old Bowling Pavilion at 10.30am.